Ram 1500 Classic Getting The Axe, Together With The Hemi 5.7-Liter V8
Those who want a new Ram 1500 with a V8 engine, should hurry up and buy the Classic while the remaining stock lasts
- The Ram 1500 Classic will be axed after the 2024 MY, giving way to the newer 1500 Tradesman.
- The truck is a continuation of the previous-gen Ram 1500 that has been around since 2008.
- The end of production signals the discontinuation of the 5.7-liter Hemi V8.
Ram announced that the 1500 Classic will be discontinued after the 2024 MY, effectively axing the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 from its half-ton truck range. The workhorse will remain available into 2025, and while stock lasts.
The Ram 1500 Classic is a continuation series of the previous-generation truck, which debuted back in 2008. The truck has been sold alongside the current-gen Ram 1500 since 2018, serving as a cheaper alternative. However, this is going to change in the 2025 MY, with a Tradesman trim of the newer model taking the role of the entry-level option.
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Stellantis spokeswoman, Jodi Tinson, issued the following statement to the media: “The Ram 1500 Classic has been a great entry point pickup for Ram, and the Tradesman model has certainly represented the needs of our commercial truck customers. With the introduction of the Tradesman trim on the new Ram 1500 for 2024 model year, we bid farewell to the previous generation and remind customers that the HEMI-powered Ram 1500 Classic will sell into 2025.”
In April 2024, Ram discontinued the 1500 Classic in Canada, stating that production would continue for the United States and Mexico. Ram didn’t give us a date for the end of production at the Warren Truck Assembly plant, but Automotive News reports it will happen this fall.
Dropping the Classic from the 1500 lineup signals the death of the Hemi 5.7-liter V8 option, which generates 395 hp (295 kW / 401 PS) and 410 lb-ft (556 Nm) of torque. Still, the Hemi will live on in the 6.4-liter guise, under the hood of the larger Heavy Duty trucks.
The new generation of the Ram 1500 is available with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, or the twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six. The latter, offers more power and torque than the discontinued V8, despite having two fewer cylinders.
Available While Stock Lasts
The 1500 Classic is currently available on Ram’s official website, with an MSRP of $38,705 for the Tradesman and $43,635 for the Warlock. Both trims come standard with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 is a $2,545 option, with an extra $500 required for the compatible eight-speed automatic gearbox.
For comparison, the entry-level 2025 Ram 1500 Tradesman starts from $40,275, or $1,570 more expensive than the 2024 Ram 1500 Classic Tradesman. All prices do not include a $1,995 destination fee.
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